Archive for the ‘Honda Pilot’ Category

Ford has completely redesigned the Explorer for the 2020 model year in the quest to surpass its many talented and popular rivals. One of those rivals is the third-gen Honda Pilot that has been around in its current form since 2016 and recently facelifted for the 2019 model year. Both models are popular, but now that the new Ford is out, is a mere facelift enough to keep the Honda up to date and competitive?

The latest Explorer changes the previous model’s formula a bit through the fact that its platform is now rear-wheel-drive biased. It is also lighter than before, offers better performance, better fuel economy, and Ford is even going to make a hot ST version of it. Honda’s Pilot refresh brought with it more aggressive exterior styling, new tech (especially on the safety front, with the full Honda Sensing suite), but no new engines – only one non-turbo V-6 is offered.

The Honda Pilot Rebelle Rally is a mid-size SUV that doubles as an off-road adventure marauder. Created to compete in the 2018 Rebelle Rally, the modified Pilot competed in the Crossover Class, finishing fifth overall behind the driving and guidance of the “Desert Dreamers” team that’s made up of Honda product planner, Ariel Jen, and senior fabricator, Melanie Morimoto. The Pilot Rebelle Rally is headed to the 2018 SEMA Auto Show where Honda plans to showcase the aftermarket possibilities that can happen with its mid-size SUV.

SUVs rose to popularity in the early 2000s, with customers being drawn to their large cabins, higher ride height, and perceived safety. The fact that automakers scored bigger profit margins from them also contributed to the surge. Starting in 2015, sales of SUVs started dominating the auto industry, and carmakers began building them in all shapes and sizes. But, while you can buy everything from compacts to full-size vehicles with taller ride height, three-row SUVs are limited to only midsize and large SUVs.

It’s obviously a matter of practicality here. And, while most haulers aren’t exactly practical, three-row vehicles retain one of the most important features of original SUVs: the ability to carry more than five people. With minivans almost extinct, the three-row SUV is arguably the most practical of its kind. With that in mind, we’re going to take a look at the ten best three-row SUVs you can buy today and compare what they offer in terms of features, power, and third-row practicality.

The 2019 Honda Pilot features a
revamped exterior and fresh technology, including the inclusion of the Honda Sensing driver assists package as standard equipment, plus a more refined drivetrain that includes heavy improvement to the nine-speed automatic transmission that should improve reliability and smoothness of shifts.

The midsize SUV segment is as hot as ever, with families flocking to dealers to scoop up high-riding ‘utes capable of providing loads of cargo room, passenger comfort, and tech choices. Two of the most popular entries in this space come from Honda, including the Pilot, and, from its premium Acura brand offering, the MDX. But the question is this – which should you buy?

For starters, the MDX is one of the most popular three-row luxury SUVs ever created, with the current model headed for a new fourth generation sometime next year. However, there’s a newly refreshed Honda Pilot out as well, which is set to make its full debut later this month. Choosing between these two can be tricky given how similar they are, but luckily, we’re here to lay out all the important info, bringing it right here to help you pick the right model for your needs.

The midsize SUV segment is as hot as ever, with families flocking to dealers to scoop up high-riding ‘utes capable of providing loads of cargo room, passenger comfort, and tech choices. Two of the most popular entries in this space come from Honda, including the Pilot, and, from its premium Acura brand offering, the MDX. But the question is this – which should you buy?

For starters, the MDX is one of the most popular three-row luxury SUVs ever created, with the current model headed for a new fourth generation sometime next year. However, there’s a newly refreshed Honda Pilot out as well, which is set to make its full debut later this month. Choosing between these two can be tricky given how similar they are, but luckily, we’re here to lay out all the important info, bringing it right here to help you pick the right model for your needs.

As the only 8-passenger SUV in the segment, the Honda Pilot discovered a dedicated base of customers on the U.S. market. In an effort to advance their strategy, the company revealed a facelifted 2019 Honda Pilot only days ago along with the introduction of a smaller, updated 2018 HR-V. Naturally, Honda continuously probed the market, identifying the most important challenges customers faced when using the car. In that regard, Honda updated the Infotainment system, integrated more standard safety gear and, most importantly, brought back the volume knob. And yes; the problematic 9-speed transmission has been comprehensively overhauled as well.

Below are the five most important changes Honda made to the 2019 Honda Pilot.

The Honda Pilot entered its third generation for the 2016 model year, and with it came a completely redesigned vehicle that dropped its boxy look, shed a few pounds, and inches closer to the premium segment as far as interior materials and overall fit and finish. On the outside, the front end is now sportier with thinner wraparound headlight units, a stylish front fascia, muscular hood, sculpted side profile, new taillight units, and a rear end that is far less boxy compared to the outgoing model. Inside, the cabin has been redesigned to provide a more premium feel, despite still be packed full of hard plastic trim. There is a new digital instrument cluster, and eight-inch touch screen display and extra passenger and cargo room compared to the previous model. Honda didn’t do too much to alter the Pilot’s drivetrain for the third-gen model, but it did update the 3.5-liter to include cylinder deactivation, a stop/start function, and a six-speed automatic transmission.

More importantly, however, is the fact that the 2016 Honda Pilot should be safer than the outgoing model, earning “good” ratings for moderate overlap frontal offset, small overlap frontal offset, side impact, and roof strength, which was an improvement over the previous gen model, which received a “poor” rating for small overlap frontal offset and a “marginal” rating for roof strength for the 2009 to 2011 model years. With models like the Toyota Highlander and Chevy Traverse already sporting a more modern design, the new Pilot finally has what it takes to compete in the Large SUV segment once again. With that said, take a look at our detailed review of the new 2016 Honda Pilot below.

Updated 06/28/2018: Honda has updated the 2019 Pilot with a revised exterior look, a revised nine-speed automatic transmission, Honda Safety Sense, and a decent list of optional equipment for the taking. Check out the details in our updated section below.

Making a better case for the Pilot as a substitute for gas-guzzling SUVs, Honda starts things off with a more modern powertrain and a cleaner, more contemporary exterior design, but it is staying mum on official details and pricing. With the 2016 Pilot going on sale this summer, though, these specs won’t be withheld for long. Until then, check out what the new Pilot is going up against.

Click past the jump to read more about where the 2016 Honda Pilot stands in regards to its competition.

Around since 2008, when it received a heavily redesigned body and a new V-6 engine, the second-generation of the Honda Pilot will be retired at the end of the 2015 model year. Replacing it will be a completely restyled version that Honda described as a vehicle built to “raise the stakes in the mainstream three-row SUV segment with new technology, advanced safety, class-leading fuel economy and enhanced family utility and versatility.” With the 2015 Chicago Auto already upon us, the 2016 Pilot is here to showcase its brand-new design language with CR-V-inspired cues, an athletic waistline, a sloping roofline, and flared wheel arches.

Of course, the new Pilot is not just about a redesigned shell. Honda also focused on moving the interior closer to the premium segment, and dropped in a revised version of the 3.5-liter V-6 engine. Naturally, the Japanese automaker promises more power and enhanced fuel economy. Also new is a six-speed automatic transmission, as well as a Honda-first, nine-speed autobox, obviously similar to the one featured in the Acura TLX and MDX. Keep reading to find out more about that.

Updated 02/12/2015: Honda unveiled the new-generation Pilot at the 2015 Chicago Auto Show. Click past the jump to learn all the new details on the 2016 Pilot.